A Taste Of Midnight

44 ⏱️

Under the thick veil of night, a faint rustle disturbed the silence around Seokjin's estate. Perched atop a twisted branch in one of the ancient trees lining the grounds was Taehyung's black crow. It was no ordinary bird—its sleek feathers gleamed unnaturally in the faint moonlight, and its eyes, dark and penetrating, held a spark of intelligence that was almost unsettling. The crow seemed to blend with the shadows, a creature of the night, watching with a purpose that went beyond mere instinct.

The crow's gaze was unwavering, fixed on the estate as if it could see through the walls and directly into the rooms where Seokjin resided. Its head tilted ever so slightly, almost in contemplation, as if it understood the weight of the secrets hidden within the grand mansion.

The crow shifted, its talons curling into the branch, and let out a low, throaty croak that carried a strange, ominous resonance. It was as though it were a dark messenger, bound to observe and report everything it witnessed to its master. And tonight, it was here for one purpose alone—to watch, to gather, and to feed Taehyung's simmering curiosity and jealousy.

As it settled back into stillness, the crow's eyes gleamed with an eerie focus, unblinking and all-knowing. It was patient, lurking in the shadows like a silent predator, a reflection of Taehyung's will. The atmosphere around the estate grew heavier, as if even the night itself were bending to the presence of this unholy witness.

From within his sanctuary, Seokjin was unaware of the ominous presence watching him from above, but the crow sat, unwavering, its shadow stretching long and dark across the estate grounds, waiting. The game had begun, and the crow, like Taehyung, was prepared to see it through until the very end.

Tan, the black crow, flew through the midnight air, gliding with purpose over the cityscape and back to Taehyung's estate. Its wings cut through the silence, an unspoken messenger, returning to deliver secrets gleaned from the shadows.

When it reached the mansion, Tan descended to an open window where Taehyung was already waiting, his figure silhouetted against the dim glow of the room. He extended an arm, and Tan alighted upon it, settling with a low, throaty croak that carried an air of satisfaction, as if pleased with its findings.

Taehyung's fingers stroked the bird's glossy feathers, his dark eyes gleaming with a curious mix of anticipation and resentment. "What did you see, Tan?" he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, as if savoring the secrets about to be revealed.

The crow tilted its head, its sharp gaze locking with Taehyung's, almost as if it could speak the words itself. In Taehyung's mind, he began to piece together the images conveyed by his cunning companion. He could envision it all—the tall, imposing estate of Seokjin's home, cloaked in its perpetual shadow, and the faint figure of Jeon Jungkook arriving frequently, moving through the grounds with an ease that suggested familiarity.

Tan's presence communicated more than just images. Taehyung could almost feel the energy emanating from Seokjin's estate, the way it had changed—charged with something different, something alive. The crow's mental impressions showed glimpses of Seokjin's movements, the vampire venturing out of his mansion more often than before, as if drawn by an invisible force.

"So," Taehyung mused, his tone laced with a bitter amusement, "Seokjin's little human has been making himself comfortable, hasn't he?" The corners of his mouth curled into a cold smile. "And it seems Seokjin is losing the discipline he once had—allowing himself to drift in and out so freely."

Tan blinked, a silent acknowledgment, as if it too understood the implications.

Taehyung's grip on the crow tightened, his mind seething with a mixture of jealousy and curiosity. "Well done, Tan," he whispered, his gaze distant and calculating. "You'll continue to watch, won't you? Make sure Seokjin and his new... companion are never left unwatched."

The crow cawed softly in agreement, its beady eyes mirroring Taehyung's satisfaction, before lifting off his arm in a flutter of black feathers. It disappeared into the darkness again, bound to resume its silent surveillance. Taehyung watched it go, his thoughts swirling with dark anticipation, as the bitterness within him festered, each passing detail fueling his resolve.

"Enjoy it while you can, Seokjin," Taehyung murmured to himself, his voice barely a whisper. "I'll be there in every shadow, waiting to remind you of everything you once tried to leave behind."

Taehyung's steps echoed through the quiet halls of his mansion as he walked with a purpose, the atmosphere around him heavy with memories that seemed to cling to the walls. He reached a door at the end of a dimly lit corridor, a room he rarely entered but one that held fragments of a life he had once dared to imagine—a life that had been wrenched from him.

He pushed open the door, and the scent of aged wood and faint lavender greeted him, lingering like a ghost from the past. The room was untouched, preserved as though frozen in time. Soft moonlight filtered through the high, arched window, casting a silvery glow over the space, illuminating the delicate details within.

A white baby cot stood in the center, draped with a thin canopy that hung like a shroud. The bars were polished smooth, each carved with intricate patterns of vines and leaves, a delicate design that belied the tragedy embedded within its purpose. A small mobile hung above the cot, still and silent, its soft pastel colors faded but unmistakable—tiny animals and stars, remnants of dreams never realized.

Around the room, carefully arranged toys sat on small shelves—handmade wooden blocks, a plush rabbit with one ear bent just so, a tiny silver rattle gleaming in the low light. A rocking chair rested by the cot, its cushions plump and untouched, as if waiting for someone to sit and hum lullabies in the darkness. Taehyung moved slowly, his fingers trailing along the edge of the cot, feeling the coolness of the wood beneath his hand, each touch a reminder of the fleeting hope he had once clung to.

The nursery was beautiful, serene, almost unbearably so. But it was also empty, hollow, a space haunted by what had once been—a reminder of the child he and Seokjin had lost together, the child they had both yearned for, yet never had the chance to hold.

A bitter ache welled up in Taehyung's chest as he gazed around the room. The silence was suffocating, filled with an absence that gnawed at him, leaving a void that no amount of time had been able to fill. He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms as a surge of resentment washed over him.

How could Seokjin move forward, even after all they had lost? How could he live, breathe, find new connections—even with a mortal—while this room, this shattered dream, remained here like a scar on Taehyung's heart? The unfairness of it twisted inside him, sharp and cutting. Seokjin had left this behind, had found ways to move beyond it, while Taehyung remained shackled to the past, unable to let go.

His gaze fell upon a tiny blanket draped over the edge of the cot, embroidered with delicate silver threads, the initials of a name they had chosen together stitched into one corner—a name that would never be spoken. He reached out, lifting the blanket with a gentleness that belied the storm raging within him, pressing it against his chest as he closed his eyes.

The memories flooded back—moments of whispered promises, of planning and laughter, of dreams that had felt so real he could still taste them. And the pain of losing it all, of watching Seokjin drift away from him, each step a silent betrayal of the life they had once imagined.

A shudder ran through him as he opened his eyes, staring down at the delicate fabric in his hands, his jaw clenched in anger and sorrow. How could Seokjin simply live on, untouched, unscarred by this hollow ache? It was as if Seokjin had forgotten, as if he had found peace with the loss that still tore at Taehyung's very soul.

The blanket slipped from his fingers, drifting to the floor as he took a step back, his gaze hardening. Seokjin may have moved forward, found solace in someone else's arms, but Taehyung would not let him forget. He would not let Seokjin escape the past so easily—not when it was still carved into Taehyung's heart like a brand.

With a final, lingering look at the nursery—a room filled with shadows and memories he could never escape—Taehyung turned and left, the door closing softly behind him, sealing away the pain that simmered within him, a pain that would not be silenced.